The Animal That Does Not Tell You It Hurts
Studies suggest that up to 20% of dogs over one year old suffer from osteoarthritis — yet the majority of those cases go undiagnosed for months or years. The reason is not negligent ownership. It is that animals are, by evolutionary design, skilled at concealing pain. Prey animals hide vulnerability to avoid predation; even predators like cats suppress visible signs of weakness. What looks like a pet slowing down with age may instead be a pet in daily discomfort that has simply learned to live with it.
Why We Miss It
Human pain tends to be vocal and demonstrative. We wince, gasp, and report exactly where it hurts. Pets rarely vocalise unless pain is sudden and severe. The signs of chronic or moderate pain in animals are behavioural, postural, and contextual — changes that accumulate gradually and are easy to attribute to other causes. Owners who see their pet every day are particularly susceptible to missing slow-onset changes because the shift from baseline is never dramatic on any given day.
Behavioural Signs of Pain
Changes in Routine and Social Behaviour
A dog that previously greeted you at the door and now stays on the sofa is not being aloof. A cat that has stopped jumping onto the bed or the worktop it always favoured may be finding that movement painful, not lazy. Withdrawal from social interaction, reluctance to play, and avoidance of previously enjoyed activities are among the most reliable early indicators of pain in both species.
Conversely, some animals in pain become clingier and more attention-seeking than usual. Pain is disorienting and distressing; proximity to their person provides reassurance. A sudden change in the direction of a pet's social behaviour — either towards or away from contact — merits attention.
Changes in Grooming
Cats in pain may stop grooming, resulting in a dull, matted, or unkempt coat — particularly in areas they cannot comfortably reach. They may also over-groom a specific location, licking obsessively at a painful spot. Dogs may lick, chew, or bite at a limb or area of the body that is causing discomfort. Any persistent, focused attention to one area of the body is worth investigating.
Altered Sleep and Rest Patterns
Pain disrupts sleep. A pet that is restless at night, frequently changing position, or that seems unable to settle may be struggling to find a comfortable resting posture. Equally, a pet sleeping significantly more than usual may be conserving energy because movement is painful.
Physical and Postural Signs
Subtle Gait Changes
A pronounced limp is obvious. But many owners miss the earlier, subtler signs: a slight head bob in a dog at trot, uneven weight distribution when standing, reluctance to put a paw fully flat, or a small hitch in the stride when turning. These are worth filming on your phone during a normal walk and showing to your vet. Video is an invaluable diagnostic tool because animals often walk differently in a clinical setting.
Postural Shifts
A hunched back, lowered head carriage, tucked abdomen, or a tail held lower than usual can all indicate pain. Cats in abdominal pain often adopt a hunched, loaf-like posture with their feet tucked tightly underneath them. Dogs with spinal pain may stand with an arched or rigid back.
Facial Expressions
Research into the grimace scales developed for cats, rats, and horses has confirmed that animals do make pain-indicative facial expressions. In cats, these include partially closed eyes, flattened ears, a tense muzzle, and whiskers pulled back. In dogs, look for brow furrowing, ears pulled back, and a tense jaw. These expressions are subtle and require practice to recognise, but they are real and measurable.
Appetite and Elimination Changes
Pain suppresses appetite in most animals. A pet eating less, eating more slowly, or dropping food from its mouth may have dental or oral pain — one of the most commonly overlooked sources of discomfort in both cats and dogs. Changes in toileting habits can also indicate pain: a dog reluctant to squat or posture may have hip, spinal, or abdominal pain; a cat avoiding the litter tray may associate it with discomfort from a urinary or musculoskeletal condition.
Aggression and Temperament Changes
A previously gentle animal that snaps, growls, or hisses when touched in a particular area is not becoming aggressive — it is communicating pain in the only language available to it. Never punish this behaviour. Instead, treat it as important diagnostic information and contact your vet. Pain-related aggression is one of the most misunderstood behavioural changes in companion animals.
What to Do If You Suspect Pain
- Keep a written or video log of the behaviours you have noticed and when they started
- Note whether symptoms are constant or occur at specific times — after rest, after exercise, in cold weather
- Do not offer human pain relief: paracetamol is fatal to cats and toxic to dogs; ibuprofen and aspirin are also dangerous to pets
- Book a veterinary appointment and bring your notes or footage — context is invaluable
- Ask your vet specifically about a pain assessment, as it is a distinct part of the consultation
- Trust your instincts: you know your pet's normal behaviour better than anyone
Pain in pets is treatable in the vast majority of cases. The obstacle is identification. If something feels different about your animal, it probably is — and that feeling is worth acting on.